My opinion isn't usually swayed on certain sweeping alien-related subjects, but I have to say that my opinion of this book has somewhat diminished over time. Mostly, it's because some things just felt shoe-horned in and that just leaves a sour taste in hindsight. Other than that, the book was well enough written, with a good pace, relatable, distinguishable, and memorable characters. It was a missed opportunity in some regards but a good fun read, and an even better audible audio drama.